From Coins to Commodities and Beyond

Whether it’s commodities, real estate or the wide world of collectibles, from an Elvis Presley jumpsuit to Abraham Lincoln's eyeglasses, there’s more than one way to try your hand at alternative investing. Click through to check out an array of investment options that give a whole new meaning to the definition of marketplace. Posted 31 Aug 2009» Article: Variety Begets Vitality» Slideshow: Music & Movie Memorabilia» Slideshow: Antique Assets

Source: Christie's This 1940’s bottle of a Merlot and Cabernet blend is expected to draw an estimated $40,000 to $60,000 at auction. »Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Smithsonian Institution There are less than five known samples of this ten-dollar proof. It has an estimated value of $1,000,000. »Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Photo: AP Commodities futures contracts, such as those connected to grains and metals, experience huge price swings because of the supply-and-demand dynamic and market speculation. Corn, for instance, traded as high as $7.96 a bushel in June 2008 during the height of the ethanol craze. By December 2008 it was down to $3.06, as commodities went from boom to bust. »Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries This 1776 edition of ‘Common Sense’ by Thomas Paine was estimated to sell for $10,000 to $20,000 in 2009. It sold at auction for $56,762.50. »Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries This autographed photo of Presley was a gift to one of his costume fitters for a movie. The picture sold at auction for $3,514.80 in 2009. »Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: MomentsInTime.com Before he murdered John Lennon, Mark David Chapman got Lennon to autograph a copy of the Double Fantasy album. The signed album was found in the front gate flower planter outside the Dakota after the assassination in 1980. The album was used as evidence against Chapman and then returned to the owner. The album is currently for sale for $575,000.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries Once sold for ten cents in 1940, this ‘Flash Comics’ comic book drew $237,125.00 at auction in 2006.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Classic Car Club of America The Isotta was in production from 1924 to 1933. Its average selling price is upwards of $640,000.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Gotta Have It Auction House Taylor received this Grammy in 1971 for his performance of the song ‘You’ve Got a Friend.’ The award sold for $18,000 in 2008.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Fears of inflation helped spike the price of gold to $1,000 per ounce in early 2009. Since then, the price has remained around $900.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Sandy Schreier The "Mondrian" day dress was designed during the mid-1960's by Yves Saint Laurent. The dress is named after Piet Mondrian because its resemblance to Mondrian's canvas paintings of color blocks.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries This is a collection of 39 letters Lee Harvey Oswald wrote between the years 1959 to 1962 to his mother and to his brother. Oswald’s writings sold for $59,750.00 in 2008.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries This pair of glasses went for auction in 2008 for $179,250.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries This two-cent stamp is one of an estimated remaining 155 stamps of its kind. It sold at auction for $41,825 in 2009.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries The citizens of Kentucky gave this sword to Ulysses S. Grant in 1864 to honor his promotion as General in Chief of the United States Army. Grant owned the sword until he died in 1884. It sold at auction in 2007 for $1,673,000.»Article: Variety Begets Vitality

Source: Heritage Auction Galleries This vintage 18k yellow gold watch was made during the 1880’s and sold at auction for $2,270 in 2009. » Replay Slideshow» Article: Variety Begets Vitality» Slideshow: Most Expensive Rare U.S. Coins